Butter cutter



4Feb- 24, 1942. V c, R. wAHLsTRoM ET A1. 2,274,621v

BUTTER GUTTER Filed Jan. l5, 1941- 1622320 J2 6mm,

Patented Feb. 24, y19412 BUTTER CUTTER Carl R. Wahlstrom and Charles G. Wahlstroni, Redwood City, Calif.v

Application January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,576

7 Claims.

The invention has for an object to provide a device for slicing butter into small pieces suitable for individual servings, as well as adaptable to larger pieces, and is especially adapted in .the present instance to receive the standard, onepound brick of butter to operate thereon to slice individual servings from the brick by very simple operations.

It is an aim of the invention to present such a device which is adapted to slice particles of butter from a block or brick in appropriate sizes for individual servings, or for larger servings, if desired. An important further object of the invention is to present a novel construction. in means for feeding a butter brick past a slicing position and at the same time operate a slicing device in an eicient and simple manner. A

vfurther important aim of the invention is to provide a novel means for varying the thickness of the slice in a given machine at will. A

A further important aim of the invention is to present such a' device which may be constructed at a comparatively small cost, and which will be liable in a minimum degree to` drangement or impairment of function incident to ordinary uses. A further important object of the invention is to present a mechanism which will be liable in a. minimum degree to accumulation of dirt which would foul its operation, or soil the butter.

An especially important aim of the invention is to present such a device which may be used as a butter container, which may be placed in a refrigerator or the like, with the butter contained therein, and operated as required t slice off and discharge servings of butter as required.

A further important object of the invention is to present such a device which will keep the butter entirely enclosed, when desired, without special manipulation of closure devices and for other purposes. n n s Y I Additionalobjects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in theembodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from the followingdescription and accompanying drawing, wherein l n Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in open position, ready to receivek a butterbrick.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View thereof, with a butter brick in place, ready for the first slicing operation. I

Figure 3 is a top view of the device, partly in section,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line ,4--4 of Figure 2.

lil

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the feeder band. v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the article with a modiiied blade construction.

Figure 7 is a detail of the blade in onefform.

There is illustrated a butter slicing device adapted to be produced in metal by various methods well understood in manufacture of articles of this nature, and including in the present instance a box-like housing or case I0, including an upper or cover portion II, substantially U- shaped in cross section, and a removable bottom I2. The case and bottom form a rectangular receptacle, open at the forward or left hand end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, the cover I I having an end wall I3 at the inner end. The front or discharge end of the case, which is at the left in the figures mentioned, is formed with smoothly finished surfaces ina plane, which is inclined upwardly and forwardly to the right, for a special purpose which will be made plain in the subsequent description. The bottom stops short of the rear wall I3, and a complementary rear bottom portion'ld is formed integrally with the upper caseportion, as shown. This rear bottom portion I4 will also include two legs or other support elements I5, while the removable bottom portion.. I2 may include correspondingV legs or other supports I6 adjacent the forward end. The space within the case as defined by its top and side walls and bottom I2 is rectangular in cross section and of a size slightly greater than that of the standard one-pound butter brick now commonly marketed throughout this country, and the length of the space within the case cover is sufficiently greater Vthan the length of the standard butter brick to accommodate a pusher or follower I'I which is longitudinally reciprocable within the case, resting upon the bottom I2 as shown, and being of suflicient size to properly force a block of butter forwardly from within the case, as will appear hereinafter. The bottom I2 and the portion I4 are formed with an undercut channel I8, and the follower Il is formed with a central downwardly projecting rib I9 which engages slidably in the narrow entrance to the channel, and is attached to a broad pusher strap 20 of metal of suitable material, which is slidable in the channel. It is formed with a series of saw-teeth serrations 2|, on one edge, directed rearwardly for engagement by a feeder device to be` subsequently described. The pusher strap is of highly flexible material, and may consist of a short section of band saw. It extends a substantial distance rearwardly of the case, up-` wardly and forwardly into a frame device and feed means, now to be described.

Fixed rigidly on the cover there is a frame structure 22, which is extended rearwardly of the case a short distance, thence upwardly and curved forwardly, to form a stop arm 23, the function of which will be subsequently described, this stop arm extending to a point over the case, a short distance inwardly of its discharge end, as plainly disclosed in Figure 2. Formed in any approved manner in the frame and stop arm, there is a guide channel 24, of a size to receive the pusher strap 28 slidably throughout the length of the channel or as far as required. The stop arm 23 is formed with a slot 25 open through the side, and the extreme end portion of the pusher strap has attached thereto the retracter knob 28, the stem of which is extended through the slot'for manual operation as will be described.

The frame includes two side plates 21, one or both of which may be removable, and being shown at the near side and attached by screws 28, as in Figure 1. An operative lever 38 is shown pivoted on one of the plates by means of an eccentric 3| having a shank portion 32 revoluble in the guide plate and provided with a wing head 33, by which it may be rotated to change the axis of the lever pivot as may be desired, for purposes to be made plain hereafter. On the body of the frame between the plates 21, a spring seat lug 34 is provided, while at a, distance therefrom the lever 38 is provided with a shoulder 35 above the lug 34, and confined between the two there is a compression spring 36. The spring ,36 serves to hold the lever 38 yieldingly in initial position as shown in Figure 2, yieldableto manual operation to lift the lever, for operation as will be described. The lever is formed with an extension 3l at its lower side, on which there is xed a spring blade 38, extended through a e direction, freely, the blade being provided with f an inturned edge 39 adapted to engage the teeth 2| of the strap 20, so as to push the latter forwardly in the case, on raising movement of the lever 38, as will be understood. The blade 38 extends a distance outwardly of and below the strap 28, and is formed with a lateral extension 40, projected beyond the side of the frame at its rear part, and formed with a push-button 4| by which it may be manually operated to press the blade 38 away from the strap 28 at times, to permit return of the strap to initial position as will hereinafter appear.

The forward end of the lever 38 is formed with a pivot knuckle 42, which is fitted snugly between the upstanding ears 44 on a blade mounting and closure 45. The pivot axis of this device is closely adjacent the upper forward extremity of the case, although its location need not be xed with great exactness, with respect to this end of the case. The blade mounting includes a plate portion 48 which extends downwardly to or near the level of the bottom l2, and is of an extent to completely equal the transverse area of the case and integral side plates 41 from which the ears 44 are projected, the plates 41 being adapted to pass on each side of the side walls vof the cover freely, and to extend slightly to the rear of the end edges 48 of the case, which have the peculiar inclination before referred to. A butter-slicing blade 49 is xed between the plates 41, and include a portion adapted to rest slidingly against the edges 48 slightly below the flat face of the bottom I2 when the lever 38 is in lowered position. The blade mounting also includes an upper rearwardly extending arm 58, disposed at such an angle to the radius of the blade 49 with respect to the pivot of the blade mounting that the arm 58 will engage the top of the case, and be pressed upwardly, so as to swing the blade 49 rearwardly against the edges 48 when the lever 30 is fully lowered. The arm 50 is provided with an upwardly extended tongue 5|, engaged slidably through a slot in the lever 30, a friction device 52 being mounted on the lever to engage the tongue 5| and hold it yieldingly at its respective limits of movement in the course of operation of the device, as will be explained. The tongue is extended upwardly, so that when the lever 38 is lifted to its upper limit of movement, the tongue will engage the under side of the extremity of the stop arm 23 and be pressed downward slidably through the lever 38, so as to swing the plate 46 and the blade 49 forwardly to an open and clearing position where they will be held by the friction device 52 until return of the lever 38 to its lowermost position, when the arm 58 will again move the blade to its rearmost position. The upward movement of the lever 38 is limited by means of an adjustable screw 53 engaged in the upper side of the lever 38 and arranged to engage the under side of the stop arm 23 when the lever is raised. Adjustment of the screw to vary its projection above the lever will determine the opening movement of the blade mounting by means 4of engagement of the tongue 5| with the stop arm 23, as will be readily understood. It should also be appreciated that the friction device 52 will cause the blade 49 to press rearwardly against the edges 48 as the lever 38 is raised, so as to cause the blade to ride upon these edges 48 throughout lifting movement of the lever. Preferably, the tongue 5| engages the arm 23 after the blade 49 has moved above the opening from the case l0, for reasons that will appear.

It will be appreciated that when the cam device is rotated to present it at its lowermost position as dotted in Figure 2, the pivot axis of the lever 30 being lowered, the arc of movement of the .blade 38 immediately adjacent the pusher strap will be much shorter for a given operating movement of the lever 3i) than when the cam 3| is at its uppermost position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, so that in the latter position, a greater length of strap will be projected forwardly on each operation of the lever than would be the case when the cam is at its lowermost position. By this means, the feed of the strap forwardly may be varied, so as to produce different thicknesses of slices by the operation of the blade 49, as will be described. The blade 49 may be a simple wire, or a flat blade, or may be a zigzag blade, such as shown in Figures 6 and 7, wherein the blade mounting 45', and other details of the device are the same as previously described, excepting that the upper plate 46 is omitted for the purposes of illustration, or may be omitted in order to afford a greater clearance for the end of the butter brick.

The bottom i0 may be retained in position on the case by any suitable means, but in the present instance, is shown as provided with friction fingers 55 at each side, although other fastenings may be employed if desired.

In the operation of the device, the lever 3U is moved to fully raised position, slightly above the position illustrated in Figure 1, and in that movement-the tongue I engages the stop 'arm 23, swinging the blade mounting forwardly so that thebladeis moved a distance forwardly of the case so as to clear the end edges 48. A butter brick may then be removed from the usual carton and inserted slidably in the open end of the case, or the bottom I2 may be pulled downwardly and the brick laid within the cover portion I I whereupon the bottom I2 is replaced to hold the brick in place. At this time the follower device I1 is at the rear limit of its movement in the case, which is preferably forwardly of the joint between the rear end of the bottom I2 and the forward edge of the bottom portion I4, so that the follower does not have to move across this joint. `In order to slice the butter`now,`the lever is moved downwardly to its lower limit of movement, which is determined by engagement of the arm against the top of the case I0, this resulting swinging the blade 49 toits rearmost position against the edges 48 as shown in Figure 2. The spring 36 serves to effect this movement of the lever 30,'and for introduction of the butter, the lever 3l) must be held manually raised, which may be readily done by grasping the lever 30 and the arm 23 between the palm and fingers of one hand, while the butter is inserted through the open end of the case with the other hand.

For slicing the butter, the lever `30 is nowoperated, by resting the palm upon the arm 23, and pressing against the under side of the lever 30 with the fingers of the same hand, the operation being 'repeated by repeated opening and clasping of the hand, a slice being cut at each operation. In the operation of the lever 30, as it is drawn upwardly, the blade 38 engages a tooth of the pusher strap and presses the same forwardly, moving the follower so that the butter is pushed out through the open end of the case. The slope of the edges 48 of the end of the case is such that, as the butter is propelled forwardly, the blade moves upwardly through the brick in a planevwithin the brick which is vertical and parallel to the original end face of the brick, as

` will be appreciated.

Repeated operation of the device as thus described nally brings the follower l1 to its forward limit of movement, which may be checked by engagement of the knob 26` with the rear end of the slot 25. At this point, in order to prepare the device for reception of another brick, the button 4I is pressed inwardly, clearing the blade 38 from the teeth of the pusher strap, and the knob 26 is then grasped manually and drawn forwardly inthe arm 23 until full retraction of the follower I1 is effected.

If desired,` a series of blades or other elements 56 may be mounted upon the blade mounting 45, at the lower edge of the closure plate 46, so as to divide the portion removed by the blade 49 into two or more portions, as may be desired.

It should be noted that in case a Zig-zag blade is used, as indicated at 49 in Figures 6 and '7, a portion of the blade adjacent each end may be extended rectilinearly transversely of the holder, so as to rest slidingly against the edges 48.

While we have described an embodiment of the invention with great particularity, it will beunderstood that the device may be modified in many particulars, involving changes in construction, arrangement and combination of equivalents, modification of proportions and other expedients dictated by requirements of use and obvious improvements, without departing from thespirit of the invention, as more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a case having a butter chamber open at one end and including. a guide means inclined to the longitudinal axis 0f the chamber, a follower in the chamber, means to move the follower stepby-step, a blade mounted for movement on said guide means across the said open end of the case' and operative connections between said means to move the follower and the blade constructed and arranged to move the blade across the opening while the follower is moved a distance equal to the longitudinal spacing of the guide means at respective positions of the blade, with respect to said case. y

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the means to move the follower consists of a channelled guide device extending rearwardly from the case, upwardly and forwardly thereover, a

flexible pusher strap slidable in the guide, an opv "in the rear extension of the frame having a spring-pressed blade movable beside the strap to engage the teeth on the latter, said lever being extended forwardly, and including a blade mounting having said blade mounted therein, whereby on operation of the lever outwardly from said case, the strap will be pushed forwardly, and said blade drawn across the open end of the case in a transverse plane of a butter mass ejected by the follower.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which said case is provided with a frame portion extended from its rear end, thence upwardly over the case, a guide channel in said frame and forward extension, a flexible pusher strap slidable therein connected to the follower, and having a` serrated edge, a lever mounted in the rear extension of the frame having a spring-pressed blade movable beside the strap to engage the teeth on the latter, said lever being extended forwardly, and including -a blade mounting having said blade mounted therein, whereby on operation of the lever outwardly from said case, the strap will be pushed forwardly, and said blade drawn across the open end of the case in a, transverse plane of ka butter mass ejected by the follower, and resilient means coengaged between the frame and lever, tending to move the lever at its outer end to closed position, said blade mounting including a closure plate `to close the end of the case.

5. The structure of claim 1, in which said case is provided with a frame portion extended from its rear end, thence upwardly and thence forwardly over the case, a guide channel in said frame and forward extension, a flexible pusher strap slidable therein connected to the follower, and having a serrated edge, a lever mounted in the rear extension of the frame having a springpressed blade movable beside the strap to engage the teeth on the latter, said lever being extended forwardly, and including a blade mounting having said blade mounted therein, whereby on operation `of the lever outwardly from said case, the strap will be pushed forwardly, and said blade drawn across the open end of the case in a transverse plane of a butter mass ejected by the follower, resilient means coengaged between the frame and lever, tending to move the lever at its outer end to closed position, said blade mounting including a closure plate to close the end of the case, said lever being movable in alinement with said forward extension of the frame, whereby said extension of the frame will operate as a stop for the lever.

6. The structure of claim l, in which said case is provided with a frame portion extended from its rear end, thence upwardly and thence forwardly over the case, a guide channel in said frame and forward extension, a flexible pusher strap slidable therein connected to the follower, and having a serrated edge, a lever mounted in the rear extension of the frame having a springpressed blade movable beside the strap to engage the teeth on the latter, said lever being extended forwardly, and including a blade mounting having said blade mounted therein, whereby on operation of the lever outwardly from said case the strap will be pushed forwardly, and said blade drawn across the open end of the case in a transverse plane of a butter mass ejected by the follower, resilient means coengaged between the frame and lever at its-outer end to closed position, said blade mounting including a, closure plate to close the end of the case, said lever being movable in alinement with said forward extension of the frame, whereby said extension of the frame will operate as a stop for the lever, said blade mounting having a strike arm extended over the case, means in position to engage said arm on closing movement of the lever to swing said blade to initial operative position, friction means to hold the blade mounting yieldngly at said position, and, means positioned to engage said arm at the outer limit of movement of the lever to swing said blade to disengaged and butter-clearing position.

7. A butter-slicing device and the like, comprising a substantially tubular case adapted to receive butter and the like, and having a iollower longitudinally slidable therein, said case having a flexible pusher strap extended slidably and longitudinally therein from one end and engaged with said follower, a mounting and guide for said strap extended rearwardly, upwardly and forwardly over said case, said strap being extended in said guide, a lever pivoted in' the bight portion of said guide, and having a ratchet feed device thereon engaged in said strap, resilient means tending to hold the lever at one limit of its movement, said guide being extended over the lever as a stop for outward movement of the lever, said lever and guide having portions positioned to be grasped in the hands of an operator for operation of the lever by opening and closing of the grip of the operator, said case being open at its end opposite said guide extension, a slicer blade mounted for movement thereacross obliquely with respect to the axis of the case, and operative connection between the outer end of said lever and the blade, for the purposes described.

CHARLES G. WAHLSTROM. CARL R. WAHLSTROM. 

